Technology scams, like general scams, come in all shapes and sizes. Including using something as quintessential as the telephone.
The most prevalent of these are fake IT Support calls. A person will call, saying they are from Microsoft, Google, Dell, or HP, or some other household technology brand. The call will be unsolicited, and say they are calling to fix a problem with your computer. They will ask you to give them access to your computer so they can “fix” it. In actuality, they are planting spyware or downloading your information so they can hack your accounts. Of course, they may ask for your credit card to pay for the “fix”.
Don’t fall for it. Remember that Microsoft, Google, Dell, HP, and the other major vendors will NEVER call you proactively to fix a computer issue. Save yourself and hang up whenever you get a call from a support tech claiming to be from these companies.
But another scam that is hitting the streets now is the “over-refund” scam. Someone will call you, concocting some reason that you are entitled to a refund. They will ask you to log into your bank account to verify the refund and give them access to your computer. When they access, your screen will go out momentarily, and the web page for your back account will show an overpayment (Say $5,000 rather than $500). But it’s not your actual bank account – it will be a manipulated fake page of your bank account. They will sound scared and claim that they are going to get into big trouble and lose their job if you don’t immediately send back the overpayment. They may ask for a credit card payment, a bank transfer, or gift cards (that’s always a huge red flag!). They will try to rush you, saying you have to do it before their boss finds out. But if you make that payment, you’ll just be out that money. Don’t fall for it. If anyone calls you out of the blue and says they owe you a refund, it’s a scam, so hang up and keep your hard-earned money!
By Robert Hood, Founder and CEO SpotLink: January 13, 2025 – Great Falls, Mt
Author: Staff
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